Ran on Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Agencies tune up traffic plans for festivals
Extra officers, signs expected to help with congestion near music grounds
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Simultaneous music festivals 30 miles apart may be music to fans' ears, but it means longer hours and beefed up staff for law enforcement.
Extra officers will direct traffic in the town of Union for Country Jam USA and in rural Cadott for Rock Fest.
Sgt. Steve Miescke of the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department said he is encouraging motorists to take alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion around the Country Jam grounds.
"It's preventative," Miescke said. "It's an excellent way to lessen congestion we see every year."
Mieske also is encouraging people to carpool to help with limited parking space and be familiar with directions to their destination; officers directing traffic don't have time to give directions, he said.
Country Jam organizer Kathy Wright was busy with last-minute details Tuesday afternoon after a fire destroyed some kitchens on the grounds. She doesn't think the fires will have an effect on the festival.
Wright is expecting about 25,000 people, one of the largest crowds in Country Jam's history, for Saturday night's headliner Bon Jovi.
"We've added some reserved and VIP sections," she said. "We're staffed heavy on Saturday night."
Chippewa County Sheriff's Department partol staff will increase with contracted officers from other communities and organizations.
Capt. Gene Gutsch said his department will use the same system for Rock Fest traffic that it has for many years.
The plan includes message boards on Highway 27 alerting drivers to the influx of traffic and officers directing vehicle and foot traffic at the festival entrance.
Gutsch said the system of patrolling campsites and 19 miles of affected roads works well because it's planned years in advance and is based on experience.
Not knowing how many people to expect for Fest's Saturday night headliner, KISS, Gutsch said the department will do things as planned.
"Basically, for us it's just another headliner appearing that night," he said.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Need for help at Table heats up
Ran on Wendesday, July 18, 2007
Need for help at Table heats up
Meal demand rises in summer
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Volunteers at Eau Claire's soup kitchen, The Community Table, are scarce during the sizzling days of summer, when demand is highest.
Serving from the basement of the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation building, The Community Table provides free meals to 60 to 100 people daily.
Last year, The Community Table served 33,000 meals and had 3,000 volunteers.
But with Chippewa Valley residents vacationing and university students gone for the summer, Community Table executive director Nadine Jentzsch said there are fewer people to serve a greater number of needy.
More people show up at the soup kitchen in summer because the weather makes it easier to travel.
"In the summer months we feed more people and have less volunteers," Jentzsch said.
Area volunteers plan, provide, prepare and serve the food, as well as clean up after the meal. Serving groups can range from five to 20 people.
Volunteers are often church, school and youth groups, she said.
On Tuesday night a team from Sacred Heart- St. Patrick Parish served a pasta and sausage dish.
Amy Naiberg, 17, of Eau Claire has volunteered with the group a handful of times. She said she enjoys doing it for a few reasons.
"Because I think that Eau Claire needs a lot more community support," Naiberg said. "I get the feeling that I helped somebody that needed it. It's better than sitting around and doing nothing."
Serving a variety of people with a variety of needs, the Community Table serves some people multiple meals each week.
Jean Rice of Eau Claire has brought her family to The Table to get meals a few times a week to lighten the food budget for the past 12 years.
"For low-income families who are stretching their food budget from month to month, it helps a lot," Rice said.
Seeing the shortage of volunteers, Rice has helped out a few times on the other side of the kitchen and volunteered to serve meals.
In addition to families stretching to make ends meet, the free meals serve people with mental and physical handicaps, people who can't work and people who are homeless.
"We see a little bit of everything," site director Peter Raleigh said.
Need for help at Table heats up
Meal demand rises in summer
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Volunteers at Eau Claire's soup kitchen, The Community Table, are scarce during the sizzling days of summer, when demand is highest.
Serving from the basement of the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation building, The Community Table provides free meals to 60 to 100 people daily.
Last year, The Community Table served 33,000 meals and had 3,000 volunteers.
But with Chippewa Valley residents vacationing and university students gone for the summer, Community Table executive director Nadine Jentzsch said there are fewer people to serve a greater number of needy.
More people show up at the soup kitchen in summer because the weather makes it easier to travel.
"In the summer months we feed more people and have less volunteers," Jentzsch said.
Area volunteers plan, provide, prepare and serve the food, as well as clean up after the meal. Serving groups can range from five to 20 people.
Volunteers are often church, school and youth groups, she said.
On Tuesday night a team from Sacred Heart- St. Patrick Parish served a pasta and sausage dish.
Amy Naiberg, 17, of Eau Claire has volunteered with the group a handful of times. She said she enjoys doing it for a few reasons.
"Because I think that Eau Claire needs a lot more community support," Naiberg said. "I get the feeling that I helped somebody that needed it. It's better than sitting around and doing nothing."
Serving a variety of people with a variety of needs, the Community Table serves some people multiple meals each week.
Jean Rice of Eau Claire has brought her family to The Table to get meals a few times a week to lighten the food budget for the past 12 years.
"For low-income families who are stretching their food budget from month to month, it helps a lot," Rice said.
Seeing the shortage of volunteers, Rice has helped out a few times on the other side of the kitchen and volunteered to serve meals.
In addition to families stretching to make ends meet, the free meals serve people with mental and physical handicaps, people who can't work and people who are homeless.
"We see a little bit of everything," site director Peter Raleigh said.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Two emotional ascents
Ran on Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Two emotional ascents
Women raise money for cancer prevention
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
There's nothing easy about climbing a mountain, but it helps if it's for a good cause.
Jo Lindoo of Eau Claire and former WQOW-TV (Channel 18) news anchor Brooke Allyson climbed separate mountains to raise money for the prevention of breast cancer through an organization called the Breast Cancer Fund.
Lindoo planned on climbing with Allyson, but was turned down by the organization because she suffers from seizures as a result of the removal of a cancerous brain tumor 12 years ago.
She didn't let that deter her. She worked to raise money and climb a different, less technical mountain with her friends Gretchen Beckstrom and Sonja Gilbertson, people Lindoo said were invaluable parts of the team.
Ascending the rubble of Mount Quandary, near Breckenridge, Colo., in three hours and 40 minutes, and seizure free, Lindoo spent an hour at the summit on July 6.
"I went off by myself, sat down and talked to all the people that donated," Lindoo said while getting emotional. "I thanked them, told them they were a wonderful person, and I was grateful they took the opportunity to help me ... it was very moving."
Allyson also had a moving experience, but it was more of a physical movement. On July 11, a vehicle-sized rock fell from Mount Shasta, scattering climbers. One climber was grazed by a rock from the fall. The woman was not seriously injured but did not finish climbing. Neither did about two-thirds of the group of 40 climbers.
"Everyone was uncontrollably shaken after that," Allyson said.
Continuing on to reach the 14,162-foot summit in nine hours, Allyson said she was as prepared as she could be, but it was challenging.
"It was by far the most difficult thing I've ever done," she said. "You can't imagine what it's going to be like on the mountain."
The mountain had much less snow than usual, making the climb one of the most difficult the veteran guides leading the money-raising climbers had ever done.
Lindoo also came upon little snow and a lot of rocks and rubble challenging the ease of both the ascent and descent, she said.
Both climbers exceeded the Breast Cancer Fund's goal of $5,000 per climber. Allyson raised just over $5,000 and Lindoo $7,000. The two were drawn to the organization because of the unique emphasis it has on the prevention of cancer.
"The key about Breast Cancer Fund is they're the only nationwide organization preventing breast cancer," Allyson said.
Lindoo said she is encouraging people to be aware of the products used on their bodies, like the products the Breast Cancer Fund through research has flagged as environmental causes of breast cancer.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Auctioneer more than a fast talker
Ran on Monday, July 16, 2007
Gimme Five
Auctioneer more than a fast talker
Editor's note: "Gimme 5" is a five-question interview on topics of local interest.
What is the peak of auction season and how much business will you see?
"The peak would probably be in May and June. People are doing their moving and cleaning and getting rid of stuff they don't want. A lot of people move in the spring, more so than in any other time."
How did you first become an auctioneer?
"I just took an interest in it. I thought it'd be a nice side job and that's exactly what it amounted to. I'm (also) a charter coach driver."
How did you develop the talents of talking fast, acknowledging people in a crowd and ramping up prices?
"Practice, practice, practice, just like anything else. Everybody can do it, only some do it better."
Do your speaking skills translate into family life too?
"No, no, it doesn't work that way. It's a different situation when you're selling than when you're visiting."
How fast can you talk?
"Very, very fast but a lot of times you don't want to do that, you have to be clear and know the merchandise you're selling. It's more important than being fast."
- Keighla Schmidt
Gimme Five
Auctioneer more than a fast talker
Editor's note: "Gimme 5" is a five-question interview on topics of local interest.
What is the peak of auction season and how much business will you see?
"The peak would probably be in May and June. People are doing their moving and cleaning and getting rid of stuff they don't want. A lot of people move in the spring, more so than in any other time."
How did you first become an auctioneer?
"I just took an interest in it. I thought it'd be a nice side job and that's exactly what it amounted to. I'm (also) a charter coach driver."
How did you develop the talents of talking fast, acknowledging people in a crowd and ramping up prices?
"Practice, practice, practice, just like anything else. Everybody can do it, only some do it better."
Do your speaking skills translate into family life too?
"No, no, it doesn't work that way. It's a different situation when you're selling than when you're visiting."
How fast can you talk?
"Very, very fast but a lot of times you don't want to do that, you have to be clear and know the merchandise you're selling. It's more important than being fast."
- Keighla Schmidt
Fair owner has big plans for 2008
Ran on Monday, July 16, 2007
Fair owner has big plans for 2008
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
CHIPPEWA FALLS - Motorists on U.S. 53 Sunday probably didn't suspect the queen of Scotland was visiting the village of Doon Douglas just a few miles away.
The royal affair was part of the final day of this year's Wisconsin Renaissance Faire, a sort of time machine whisking visitors back to the year 1346.
The fair that ran five straight weekends this summer more than doubled its attendance from its first year in 2006. Over 20,000 people came this year to the fair.
The festival added 24 new buildings this year, for a total of 32, the grounds were landscaped and bathrooms with flush toilets were added.
For next year, Renaisaance Faire owner Shane McVey said he plans to build at least 12 more buildings and do more landscaping to make more room for vendors and performers.
McVey said he's attracting large crowds and good performers because the festivities are fun.
"Over 42 percent of our customers are from more than 60 miles away," McVey said.
The focus is on kids and families and presenting opportunities for fun for all people, he said.
Fair goer Therese Rabey said she enjoyed the demonstrations different shows.
Rabey travels with her daughter Andrea Lointson, from Knife River, a town north of Duluth, Minn., to renaissance fairs across the United States.
"We really like the arena (here); it's not on just a flat plane," Lointson said of the jousting field that's located in a valley.
A crew of about 250 people perform and make the authentic atmosphere possible, McVey said.
There is a mixture of national and local performers who are contracted to put on shows.
The Jugglenauts, from Eau Claire, are one of the local groups.
Wayne and Sandy Hanson's son, Torry Hanson, is one of the juggling performers.
"This year there is less juggling and more entertaining," Wayne Hanson said.
"The Jugglenauts are awesome," Sandy Hanson said. "They're a lot of fun."
Some vendors are seeing a success and signing on again for next year's festival.
Tom and Terry Evans of St. Paul sell hand-crafted leather goods at the fair.
"We sell just because we have leather and know it's a good venue for us," Terry Evans said.
Fair owner has big plans for 2008
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
CHIPPEWA FALLS - Motorists on U.S. 53 Sunday probably didn't suspect the queen of Scotland was visiting the village of Doon Douglas just a few miles away.
The royal affair was part of the final day of this year's Wisconsin Renaissance Faire, a sort of time machine whisking visitors back to the year 1346.
The fair that ran five straight weekends this summer more than doubled its attendance from its first year in 2006. Over 20,000 people came this year to the fair.
The festival added 24 new buildings this year, for a total of 32, the grounds were landscaped and bathrooms with flush toilets were added.
For next year, Renaisaance Faire owner Shane McVey said he plans to build at least 12 more buildings and do more landscaping to make more room for vendors and performers.
McVey said he's attracting large crowds and good performers because the festivities are fun.
"Over 42 percent of our customers are from more than 60 miles away," McVey said.
The focus is on kids and families and presenting opportunities for fun for all people, he said.
Fair goer Therese Rabey said she enjoyed the demonstrations different shows.
Rabey travels with her daughter Andrea Lointson, from Knife River, a town north of Duluth, Minn., to renaissance fairs across the United States.
"We really like the arena (here); it's not on just a flat plane," Lointson said of the jousting field that's located in a valley.
A crew of about 250 people perform and make the authentic atmosphere possible, McVey said.
There is a mixture of national and local performers who are contracted to put on shows.
The Jugglenauts, from Eau Claire, are one of the local groups.
Wayne and Sandy Hanson's son, Torry Hanson, is one of the juggling performers.
"This year there is less juggling and more entertaining," Wayne Hanson said.
"The Jugglenauts are awesome," Sandy Hanson said. "They're a lot of fun."
Some vendors are seeing a success and signing on again for next year's festival.
Tom and Terry Evans of St. Paul sell hand-crafted leather goods at the fair.
"We sell just because we have leather and know it's a good venue for us," Terry Evans said.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Doyle organizes safety task force
Ran on Sunday, July 15, 2007
Doyle organizes safety task force
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
In the wake of this spring's killing spree on the Virginia Tech campus, Gov. Jim Doyle organized the Task Force for Campus Safety that includes three people from western Wisconsin.
Task force members want to share safety measures to ensure campuses have the most effective system available, officials said..
"We're trying to establish best practices and how to deal with potential problems at preventative and invervention levels," said Roger Leque, task force co-chairman and River Falls police chief.
Another task force member, Deb Newman, associate director of housing and residential halls at UW-Eau Claire, said the group "wants the best ideas so they can have a set of best practices."
Newman said she is encouraged by the task force because many of the ideas discussed at meetings already are in place at UW-Eau Claire. One of them is a committee that meets bi-weekly to discuss students who are posing a safety risk to the campus and community.
The task force also aims to integrate forms of technology into situations where safety is compromised.
Task force member Jerry Matysik, Eau Claire's police chief, said he will encourage task force members to use a technology system the police department has used for the past year.
The federally funded system, used in emergencies, has an automated message sent to all phones, land lines and cellular phones informing them of the emergency situation.
Matysik said his department has used the system about a half dozen times in the past year.
"It's not a perfect system," he said. "But it's certainly helpful."
Matysik said he agreed to be on the committee because he thinks campus safety is an important issue.
"Whatever I can do to help, I'm certainly willing to offer expertise," he said.
An increase of information sharing among multiple parties must be fluid to ensure the highest level of safety possible.
Leque cited cooperation between city and campus police in River Falls, a city with university and technical college campuses, after a threatening racial comment was left in a restaurant's public restroom.
"We took steps and coordinated with campus personnel," Leque said.
Doyle organizes safety task force
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
In the wake of this spring's killing spree on the Virginia Tech campus, Gov. Jim Doyle organized the Task Force for Campus Safety that includes three people from western Wisconsin.
Task force members want to share safety measures to ensure campuses have the most effective system available, officials said..
"We're trying to establish best practices and how to deal with potential problems at preventative and invervention levels," said Roger Leque, task force co-chairman and River Falls police chief.
Another task force member, Deb Newman, associate director of housing and residential halls at UW-Eau Claire, said the group "wants the best ideas so they can have a set of best practices."
Newman said she is encouraged by the task force because many of the ideas discussed at meetings already are in place at UW-Eau Claire. One of them is a committee that meets bi-weekly to discuss students who are posing a safety risk to the campus and community.
The task force also aims to integrate forms of technology into situations where safety is compromised.
Task force member Jerry Matysik, Eau Claire's police chief, said he will encourage task force members to use a technology system the police department has used for the past year.
The federally funded system, used in emergencies, has an automated message sent to all phones, land lines and cellular phones informing them of the emergency situation.
Matysik said his department has used the system about a half dozen times in the past year.
"It's not a perfect system," he said. "But it's certainly helpful."
Matysik said he agreed to be on the committee because he thinks campus safety is an important issue.
"Whatever I can do to help, I'm certainly willing to offer expertise," he said.
An increase of information sharing among multiple parties must be fluid to ensure the highest level of safety possible.
Leque cited cooperation between city and campus police in River Falls, a city with university and technical college campuses, after a threatening racial comment was left in a restaurant's public restroom.
"We took steps and coordinated with campus personnel," Leque said.
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